Method and apparatus for sterilizing articles



April 29, 1958 v. R. ABRAMs METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 14, 1955 INVENTOR.

= @wf/24J April 29, 1958 v. R. ABRAMS 2,832,106

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING ARTICLES Filed- April 14, 1955 5 SheeizS--Sheei'I 2 I` April 299 1958 v. R. ABRAMs 2,832,106

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING ARTICLES Filed April 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Shedl 3 ZEE 315 United States Patent O Ii/lE'liiiUl) AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING ARTICLES Victor R. Abrams, Rockford, Ill.

Application April 14, 1955, Serial No. 561,266

15 Claims. (Cl. 21-78) The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for processing articles and more particularly to a novel method and apparatus for sterilizing articles such as containers and the like.

it is often necessary or desirable to sterilize cans or other containers before they are filled as, for example, the cans to be used in an aseptic canning process must be sterilized and maintained in a sterile condition before previously sterilized food stuff is dispensed therein. Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for sterilizing articles such as `containers and the like in a rapid, economical, and thorough manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus whereby articles such as containers and the like may be sterilized with saturated steam under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure so as to reduce the time required for effecting thorough sterilization.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus whereby articles such as containers and the like may be move'd through a chamber lled with saturated steam under pressure while continuously maintaining the steam pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for conveying a series of articles such as containers into and out of a chamber iilled with saturated steam under pressure while continuously sealing conveyor inlet and outlet openings in the chamber.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus of the above described type wherein the containers are at least partially evacuated before entry into the steam chamber to facilitate iiow of steam into the containers.

@ther objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the following drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of an apparatus embodying the principles of this invention with portions thereof broken away or shown in cross section to illustrate the structure in greater detail;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken along line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another side elevational view of the apparatus in this invention;

Pig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken along line al 4i in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line i--' in Fig. 3;

Pig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 6 6 in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 7 in FigS;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along line 6 5 in Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9 9 in Fig. 3;

Fig. l is a cross sectional view taken along line 10-10 in Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a plan view of an element ofthe apparatus which serves to support a container and direct steam into the container; and i Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the element shown in Fig. 11.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an apparatus is shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and this apparatus includes a frame comprising a pair of upstanding channel members 22 and 24 which are respectively supported by braces 26 and 28. The braces are in turn connected to any suitable base structure, not shown. Spacing members 3i) and 32 extend between and are secured to the upstanding channel members for fixing the channel members with respect to each other.

rihe frame carries a conveyor for containers or other articles to be processed, which conveyor includes a pair of sprocket wheel means lift and 36 and an endless conveyor chain made up from a plurality of pivotally connected links 3h. The upper sprocket wheel means 34 is supported on the upper ends of the frame members 22 and 2d, and in order to insure the maintenance of the proper tension in the conveyor chain, the lower sprocket wheel means 36 is carried by a slide member liti. As shown in Figs. l and 6, the slide member 40 includes a substantially U-shaped strap having a closed end 42 and legs t4 and 46 respectively slidably disposed against the frame members 22 and Zai. A spacer member 48 is disposed between and connected to the legs 44 and 46. The slide member is resiliently urged outwardly to maintain the conveyor chain under tension by means of a compression spring Stl which is disposed between the frame spacing member 32 and the end of the slide member and which is retained in position by a rod 52 xed to the end portion it?, of the slide member and slidably extended through a suitable aperture in the spacing member 32. Movement of the slide member with respect to the frame members 22 and 24 is limited by connecting a plurality of lugs or studs 515, S6, 58, and 6@ to the legs i4 and d6, which lugs respectively extend through elongated slots 62., 6d, 66, and 68 in the channel members 22 and 24.

The sprocket wheel means includes a pair of disks and 72, which are fixed on a rotatably supported shaft 74. Chain engaging lugs or tooth elements 76 are spaced evenly about the peripheries of the disks 70 and 72. As shown best in Fig. 1, these lugs are provided with notches adapted to receive link connecting pins of the conveyor chain. The sprocket wheel means 36 also includes a pair of disks 78 and Si) which lare xed on a rotatably supported shaft 82. A plurality of chain engaging lugs 84 is also mounted on the disks 78 and 80. In order to drive the conveyor, a sprocket 84 is fixed on the shaft 82 and a chain 86 is wrapped around this sprocket and also around a sprocket 83 fixed on an output of a speed reducing unit 92, and the speed reducing unit may be driven by any suitable means such as a motor 94.

As will be understood, the courses of the conveyor chain will vibrate or shake back and forth with respect to a line drawn through the centers of rotation of both of the sprocket wheel means since the points of engagement between the chain and the sprocket wheel means move in an arc around the centers of rotation. In ac- -cordance with the present invention, and for the purpose described fully hereinbelow, the conveyor is constructed so that the paths of travel of the upwardly and downwardly moving courses of the chain are fixed in space and vibrating or back and forth shaking motion of the courses is substantially eliminated. In order to accompllsh this result, it should be noted that the sprocket wheel means are each provided with an odd number of chain engaging lugs or teeth. Thus, when the elements of the conveyor are in the positions shown in Fig. l, it is seen that the right hand or downwardly moving course is laterally offset from a plane extending through the centers of rotation of the sprocket means a maximum distance which is determined by the radius of the sprocket means. On the other hand, the left or upwardly moving course is laterally ocset from this plane the minimum possible distance. Upon rotation of the sprocket means, it will be appreciated that the downwardly moving course will shift relatively inwardly with respect to the centers of rotation, while the upwardly moving course will shift relatively outwardly with respect to the centers of rotation. Still further rotation causes repeated back and forth relative shifting between the courses and the centers of rotation of the sprocket means, but it should be noted that both courses always shift in the same direction, or in other words, when the downwardly moving course rshifts toward the right, the upwardly moving course also shifts toward the right, and when the downwardly moving course shifts toward the left, the upwardly moving course also shifts toward the left. This movement of the upwardly and downwardly courses in unison would not be obtained if the sprocket wheel means were provided with an even number of chain engaging lugs, and to the contrary, the courses would shift to the opposite direction. Since the courses shift in unison with respect to the centers of rotation of the sprocket wheel means, it is possible to x the paths of travel of the conveyor chain courses in space `by shifting the centers of rotation of the sprocket wheel means.

ln order to shift the center of rotation of the sprocket means 34 lfor the purpose described above, the sprocket means shaft 7d is journaled ina pair of slidably mounted bearing blocks 96 and 98 and means is provided for shifting the bearing blocks back and forth in time with the rotation of the sprocket wheel. More specifically, a plate member 19t) is welded or otherwise secured to the top of the channel frame member 22, a bearing plate 102 is fixed to the top of the plate 101B, and a slipper 16d is xed to the bottom of the bearing block 96 for slidably supporting the bearing 'block on the plate 102. The side edges of the slipper are confined by guide members 106 and 163 and hold-down members 11@ and 112 are fixed on top of the guide members and extend over the edges of the slipper. As shown in Fig. l, the bearing block 96 is resiliently biased toward the right by a spring` 114, which abuts against a block 116 fixed on the plate 100. The spring is disposed on 'a rod 113 which is fixed to the bearing block and slidably extends through a suitable aperture provided in the block 11d. The bearing 9S is slidably mounted and resiliently biased in substantially the same manner and by substantially the same means as the bearing 96, and therefore this means need not be described in detail.

Movement of the sprocket wheel 34, and therefore the bearings 96 and 9S, toward the right as viewed in Fig. l, is limited by a pair of fixed elongated and substantially vertically disposed cam members 12.0 and 122, which are respectively mounted on the upstanding frame members 22 and 24 by strut means 12d and 126. l'n addition, each of the sprocket wheel disks itl and 72 carries a plurality of spaced rollers and 130, which rollers are disposed in axial alignment with the slots or grooves in the chain engaging lugs 76. The cams 12@ and 122 are disposed for engagement by the rollers 123 and When the sprocket wheel means 3d is in the position shown in Fig. l, a plane extending through the centers of the rollers in engagement with the cams 124B and 122 and also through the axis of the sprocket wheel shaft is substantially perpendicular to the cams. Thus, the center of rotation of the sprocket wheel is located at the maximum distance it be shifted away from the cams. As the sprocket wheel rotates from the position shown in Fig. 1, the rollers 128 and 130 are maintained in engagement with the cams, since the sprocket wheel bearings are shifted toward the right by the springs. Il`he movement of the bearings toward the right continues until the next pair of rollers 128 and 1341 also engage vthe cams, whereupon these rollers in co-operation of the cams serve to shift the bearings toward the left until the rollers pass the horizontal centerline.

The sprocket wheel means 36 is shiftably mounted and actuated on the ends of the frame legs i4 and 46 in substantially the same manner as the sprocket wheel means 34; is mounted and actuated. Thus, it suffices to state that the shaft S2 of the sprocket wheel means 36 is journaled in a pair of slidably and yieldably biased bearings 132 and 134;, and that the disks 7S and 8@ carry rollers 136 and 138 which correspond to the above described rollers 123 and 130 and which cooperate with cam means 140 which is substantially identical to the above described cams 120 and 122. However, in order to show other features of the structure in greater detail, certain elements of the cam means and the means for slidably mounting and yieldably biasing the bearings for the lower sprocket wheel have been omitted from the drawings.

Each link 33 of the conveyor chain is adapted to carry an article such as a container or can 142 upwardly from a loading station 144 around the upper sprocket Wheel, then downwardly through processing or sterilizing means 146 and then to an unloading station 1li-8. As shown best in Fig. 712, each link 38 includes a pair of piston-like end plates 150 and 152 which are connected in axially spaced relationship by a pair of straps 154 and 156. The straps provide opposite sides of a cage-like enclosure in which the container is held and a third side of the enclosure is provided by a pair of bars 158 and 160 extending between and secured to the piston-like end plates. The fourth side of the enclosure is left open so as to permit containers to be placed in and removed therefrom. A split piston ring 162 is mounted in a suitable groove formed in the periphery of the piston 150, and a similar ring 164 is mounted in a groove in the periphery of the piston 152. These rings which may be made from a suitable plastic material are provided for the purpose to be set forth fully hereinbelow. A pair of lugs 166 and 16S having aligned apertures is secured to the piston 152. As shown best in Fig. 8, the lugs 166 and 168 are adapted to extend between the lugs 170 and 172 of a preceding link, and a pin 174 is inserted through the aligned apen tures in the lugs for connecting the adjacent links. The pins 174 are also adapted to co-operate with the lugs or tooth members on the sprocket wheels to provide a driving connection between the chain and the sprocket wheels. Each link 38 may also be provided with permanent magnets 176 and 178 mounted on the bars 158 and 169 in order to hold a can within the cage-like link in a predetermined manner.

The containers or cans 142 are delivered to the loading station 144 by any suitable means such as a chute or track 181i. A disk 132 is mounted on the frame of the apparatus by bracket means, not shown, for receiving the cans from the chute. A pair of star wheels 184 are fixed on a rotatably mounted shaft 186 for transferring the containers or cans from the chute to the conveyor chain. As shown best in Fig. 2, the star wheels are provided with notches 183 and 19d adapted to receive containers from the chute so that upon rotation of the wheels in the direction indicated by the arrow the tainers are moved around the disk. The disk or atform 182 is provided with a notch 192 through which the links of the conveyor chain pass and a guide member is fixed on the disk or platform to direct the cans to a position in alignment with the notch 192. and the conveyor chain links. A guide member 19d is also mounted on the disk or platform 1132 for stripping the cans from. the star wheels and directing the cans at least acentos partially over the notch 192 and partially in axial alignment with the conveyor chain links. Means is provided for driving the star wheels in timed relationship with the conveyor chain so that a can forced over the notch 192 by the star wheels will be positioned between the piston end plates of one of the conveyor chain links. Thus, as the conveyor chain link rises, its piston end plate 152 engages beneath the can and then lifts the can with the link. Since, however, the star wheel only partially inserts the cans between the piston-like end plates of the links, a guide bar ld is provided for 4forcing the cans completely into the links as the cans are raised with the links. rIhis guide bar 193 is integrally connected with an elongated guide bar 20d which is mounted to the apparatus frame by a plurality of brackets 202, and which serves to close the open sides of the cage-like conveyor links to prevent the cans from accidentally falling from the links.

The means for ydriving the transfer star wheels in timed relationship with the conveyor chain may be of any known construction. For the purpose of illustration only, this means has been shown as including a bevel gear 2M fixed on the shaft 26 and meshing with a bevel gear 2M mounted on a rotatable shaft 20S. A sprocket wheel 210 is also mounted on the shaft 2tlg and is driven by a chain 212 which encircles a sprocket Wheel mounted on the shaft @il of the speed reducing unit.

The means ille for processing the containers includes a iirst elongated tube or cylinder 21d which has a length substantially greater than the length of each of the con veyor links 3ft and which has an internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the conveyor chain piston rings. A second elongated tube 216, which has a larger internal diameter, is disposed in axial alignment with the tube 2M. Annular anges 218 and 22d are secured to the tubes 214 and 216 respectively, which anges are clamped together by a plurality of bolt means 222. A third tube 224 also having an internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the piston rings, is disposed in axial alignment with the tube 2id and is provided with an annular flange 226 which is bolted or otherwise secured to an annular ange 228 xed to the tube 26d. Steam is introduced to the chamber provided by the tube 216 through a conduit 230, which is connected to a source of supply, not shown, which preferably is capable of providing saturated steam under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The elongated tubes 2M and 224 at the opposite ends of the tube 2M cooperate with the pistons of the conveyor chain links continuously to seal the chamber provided by the tube 2l@ :from the surrounding atmosphere, so that saturated steam under pressure may be maintained within the chamber. By using saturated steam under pressure the temperature of the steam may be closely controlled by controlling the pressure and rapid and thorough sterilization of the con tainers or other articles being processed may be obtained.

In order to insure intimate contact of the steam with al1 portions of the interior surfaces of the containers, the containers are at least partially evacuated before they pass into the steam chamber. ln order to accomplish this, a plurality of conduits 232 communicate with the interior of the tube 2id in the manner shown in Figs. l and 3, which conduits are connected with a source of vacuum or reduced pressure, not shown. Upon entry of each conveyor link into the tube 2id, a sealed chamber is provided between the piston end plates of the links, which chamber communicates with the vacuum conduits Thus, the chamber is evacuated the interior of the container carried by the link is also evacuated. The sealed evacuated chambers remain sealed until the piston end plates l5@ pass into the steam chamber beyond the end of the tube 214. Since the internal diameter of tube 216 is greater than the diameter of the pistons, steam immediately rushes into the formerly evacuated chamber between the piston links, and also into the inbei terior of the container. Furthermore, means is provided for supporting the containers on each of the pistons and for deecting the steam rushing into the interior of the containers so that the steam flows with a swirling motion against the interior surfaces ot the container'. This means, which is shown best in Figs. 9, l0, ll and l2, includes a disk 23d which is adapted to be fixed to the piston l5@ and a plurality of upstanding triangular vanes 236, 238, .2d-tl, and 242 lixed to the disk 234. The vanes are arranged in generally radially extending and olset re "srtship, so as to provide, in elfect, a central steam passageway or orifice 244, through which steam may pass into the interior of the container, which is supported on the inclined edges of the Vanes as shown in Fig. 9. The portion of the steam which rushes past the vanes and to the central oriice combines within the oriice to set up a swirling motion.

As the conveyor chain links pass out of the steam chamber through the sealing tube 224, they carry with them between the piston plates a portion of the steam which is then discharged through a. conduit 24:6, having a check valve 24d therein. The conveyor links emerging from the sealing tube 224 enter a housing; 25S which encloses the unloading station .ldd and whichis lled with a sterile gas to prevent the cans from becoming contaminated. The unloading mechanism includes a roller 252 which is mounted on the end of a lever 254 iixed on a rotatably supported shaft 256. As shown in Figs. l and fl, the shaft 256 has an end portion projecting through a wall of the housing 25h, and a lever 25d is fixed to this end portion. A tension spring 2d@ is connected to the free end of the lever 258 and to the flange of the tube 221i. With this structure, the roller 252 is normally resiliently biased toward a position wherein itprojects into the path of the containers carried by the conveyor links. As the conveyor links emerge from the sealing tube 22d, their leading piston ends l5@ engage the roller 252 and force it against the action of the spring out of the path of the cans. ln addition, each piston end plate l5@ has fixed thereon an upstanding cam linger 262, which is located between the bars 158 and 16d and serves to maintain the roller 252 out of engagement with the can until the conveyor links have been lowered to a predetermined position. This position, which may be changed by varying the length of the cam linger 2in, is such that when the roller passes over the top of the cam linger, it is snapped against the can by the spring 2st), so that the can pivots about its lower end and the supporting vanes 23o-2d@ in the manner shown by the broken line positions of the can in Fig. l. The cans tall from the conveyor links onto an endless belt conveyor 266i, which is disposed in part in the housing 259 which extends through an elongated tunnel 266 in which a sterile atmosphere is maintained. The sterilized con* tainers are carried by the conveyor 26d to any desired point of discharge. However, the apparatus of this invention is especially adapted for use in sterilizing cans which are to be lled with sterilized goods or food under aseptic conditions, therefore, the conveyor 26d may be arranged to deliver the cans beneath a dispensing device, not shown. It is seen, that the cans moving downwardly in the conveyor chain are upside down, and that the spring actuated roller 252 knocks the cans from the conveyor links and starts them turning end over end. ln order to insure that the cans will land right side up on the endless conveyor 264-, a portion of the housing 25@ is formed as at 268 to provide a guide wall for the cans and an opposing guide member 27d is mounted within the housing. As will be understood, the upper end of the guide member 270 will engage a falling can so that the can will complete its end over end motion and the guide Wall 268 prevents the can from continuing to tumble after it has landed on the conveyor 264. in order to prevent an undue amount of the sterile atmosphere from escaping through an outlet opening in the housing 250 provided for the conveyor chain, the outlet opening is eagles formed by an elongated tube or cylinder 272, which co-operates with the pistons to seal the outlet opening continuously.

A brief resume of the operation of the above described apparatus is as follows. The motor 9d is energized so that the conveyor chain. and the transfer or star wheels are driven in predetermined timed relationship. in addition, suitable means, not shown, is energized for continuously driving the discharge conveyor 26d and steam is introduced into the tube 2336. Also, the means, not shown, for evacuating the tube ZM- is energized. a series of containers lili?. is supplied to the transfer wheels and these containers are successively transferred to the cage-like links of the conveyor. As the containers move upwardly from the loading station, they rest on the piston ends l?. of the links, and as the links pass over the sprocket wheel means 3d and start downwardly, the containers are inverted and they fall down onto the supporting and steam-directing vanes Li3=o-2dl on the piston ends liil. As the containers fall downwardly in the manner just described, they are retained by the permanent magnets 76 and l'l't in a predetermined manner against the bars 158 and loll, so as to insure alignment of the open ends of the containers with the supporting varies. Then the chain links and cans carried thereby pass downwardly into the sealing tube 2id. lt is important to note that the position of the sealing tube in space is lixed and that the downwardly moving course of the conveyor chain should always be substantially in axial alignment with the tube as well as the other sealing tubes 224 and 277, in order to obtain proper seals and in order to reduce unnecessary wear on the pistons and the tubes. This result is accomplished since the path of the course of conveyor links is also tixed in spaced as a result of the manner in which the sprocket wheels are mounted and actuated. As the conveyorlinks pass through the tube 2id, the containers carried thereby are evacuated so as to permit ready entry of steam into the interior of the containers when the links pass into the tube 216. Then the conveyor links pass through the sealing tube 224 and into the housing e? wherein the spring actuated roller 252 functions to tumble the containers onto the discharge conveyor 26d. Since the containers are inverted, any condensate which may form within the interior thereof may drain therefrom while the containers pass through the sealing tube and downwardly into the housing 2.5i?.

From the above description is seen that invention has provided a novel whereby a series of cans or the present method and apparatus other articles may be continuously processed or sterilized in a rapid or economical manner. More specically, it is seen that the present invention has provided a novel method and apparatus wherein a series of cans may be successively and continuously introduced into and removed from a chamber co-ntaining saturated steam under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, while at the same time the chamber is continuously sealed from the surrounding atmos phere. lt is also seen that the present invention has provided a novel apparatus for conveying a series of containers to such a steam lled chamber, for evacuating 'the containers before entry into the steam chamber and for removing the containers from the conveyor after they have been sterilized.

While the preferred embodiment has been shown described herein, it is obvious that many structural de may be changed Without departing from the spirit and scope ot the appended claims.

Fthe invention is claimed as follows:

l. An apparatus for processing articles such as ccntainers and the like comprising a. movably mounted endless conveyor chain of link vmeans each for carrying an article to be procesed, chamber means surrounding a portion ol said chain and having inlet and outlet open-A tijd ing means for said chain, said chamber means being adapted to contain a processing iiuid under pressure, said link means and said chamber means including co-operable means for substantially continuously sealing said inlet and said outlet opening7 means, means communieating with a portion of said chamber means adjacent said inlet opening means and connectable with a source of reduced pressure for evacuating said chamber means portion, and means for directing processing fluid under pressure into a second chamber means portion.

2. An anaaratus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising a movably mounted endless conveyor chain of link means each for carrying an article to be processed, chamber means surrounding a portion of a course of said chain, means for actuating said conveyor chain for moving said course portion along a path of travel which is substantially iii/:cd relative to said chamber means, said chamber means having inlet and outlet openings for said course, said link means and said chamber means including co-operable means for continuously substantially sealing said inlet and outlet openings, means communicating with a portion of said chamber means adjacent said inlet opening and connectable with a source of reduced pressure for evacuating said chamber means portion, and means for directing processing tluid under pressure into a second chamber means portion.

3. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising a movably mounted endless conveyor chain of link means, each for carrying an article to be processed, means for actuating said chain with a course thereof moving along a substantially fixed path of travel, fixed chamber means surrounding a portion of said course, said chamber means including an inlet tube and an outlet tube for said course, each of said link means including spaced piston-like ends cooperable with said tubes for continuously substantially sealing said chamber means, means communicating with a portion of said inlet tube and connectable with a source ot reduced pressure for evacuating the inlet tube, and means for directing processing fluid under pressure into said chamber means.

4. An apparatus, as deiined in claim 3, wherein said piston means are spaced so as continuously to seal said means connectable with a source of reduced pressure from said means for directing processing fluid under pressure into the chamber means.

5. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising conveyor means including a pair of spaced rotatable sprocket means and an endless chain ot link means on and having courses extending between said sprocket means, each of said link means being for carrying an article to be processsed, means supporting said sprocket means for shifting movement transversely of said courses, means including resilient biasing means and cam means for shifting said sprocket means back and forth for continuously positioning said courses for movement along substantially hired paths ot travel, chamber means surrounding a portion of one of said courses and adapted to contain a processing fluid, said chamber means having inlet and outlet openings for said endless chain, and said link means and said chamber means including co-operable means for continuously substantially sealing said inlet and outlet openings.

6. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising conveyor means including a pair of spaced rotatable sprocket means and an endless chain of link means on and having courses extending between said sprocket means, each of said link means being for carrying an article to be processed, means supportiny said sprocket means for shifting movement, means resiliently biasing said sprocket means transversely of said one of said courses, fixed cam means disposed for engagement with elements of said sprocket asaaioe means for limiting shifting movement of the sprocket means under the inuence of the resilient biasing means and thereby continuously positioning said one course for movement along a fixed path of travel, chamber means surrounding a portion of said one course and having inlet and outlet openings for said one course, said chamber means being adapted to contain a processing fluid, and means detining said inlet and outlet openings and cooperable with means on said links for continuously substantially sealing said inlet and outlet openings.

7. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising a movable mounted conveyor chain of cage-like link means each for holding an article to be processed, each of said link means including a pair of spaced piston ends and having an open side through which articles may be inserted at a loading station and removed at an unloading station, magnet means disposed at one side of each of said cage-like links for retaining articles within the links, chamber means for conlining processing uid under pressure enclosing a portion of the links between said loading and unloading stations and having inlet and outlet openings for said links, and means dening said inlet and outlet openings and co-operable with said piston ends for continuously substantially sealing said inlet and outlet openings.

8. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising a movably mounted endless conveyor chain of link means each for holding an article to be processed, said conveyor chain being disposed so that it has an upwardly moving course and a downwardly moving course, means for successively loading containers having an open upper end into the links of the upwardly moving course so that said containers will become inverted when they are advanced to said downwardly moving course, and chamber means for containing processing fluid surrounding a portion of said downwardly moving course, each of said link means including means registerable with the open end of the inverted containers for directing processing lluid into the containers with a swirling motion.

9. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising a movably mounted endless conveyor chain having upwardly and downwardly moving courses of link means each for holding an article to be processed, means for successively loading containers having open upper ends into the links of said upwardly moving course so that said containers will become inverted when they are advanced to said downwardly moving course, chamber means for containing processing fluid surrounding a portion of said downwardly moving course and having inlet and outlet openings for said downwardly moving course, means supporting and actuating said conveyor chain with said downwardly moving ,course constantly disposed in a fixed path of travel, means defining said inlet and outlet openings and eo-operable with means on each of said link means for continuously substantially sealing said inlet and outlet openings, and means on each of said link means registerable with the open ends of the inverted containers in the downwardly moving course for directing the processing uid into the containers With a swirling motion.

l0. An apparatus for processing articles such as containers and the like comprising movably mounted endless conveyor chain means having an upwardly moving course and a downwardly moving course of link means each for holding an article to be processed, the link means ot' said upwardly moving course being adapted to receive containers having open upper ends so that said containers will become inverted when they are advanced to said downwardly moving course, cylinder means surrounding a portion of said downwardly moving course, each of said link means including means co-operable with the first portion of said cylinder means for providing a substantially sealed chamber enclosing the container carried by such link means, means communicating with said chamber and connectable with a source of reduced pressure for evacuating said chamber and the container therein, means for directing processing Huid under pressure into a second portion of said cylinder means, and means on each of said link means registerable with the open ends of the inverted containers on the downwardly moving course for directing processing fluid into the containers.

ll. An apparatus for processing articles such as -containers and the like comprising a movably mounted endless conveyor having upwardly and downwardly moving courses of link means each for holding a container to be processed, the link means in said upwardly moving course being adapted to receive containers having open upper ends so that said containers will become inverted when they are advanced to said downwardly moving course, chamber means for containing processing uid surrounding a portion of said downwardly moving course, means on each of said link means registerable with the open ends of the inverted containers in said downwardly moving course for directing the processing fluid into the containers with a swirling motion, and magnet means on each of said link means for retaining said containers in position for registration with said lluid directing means.

12. An apparatus for processing containers and the like comprising movably mounted endless conveyor chain means having upwardly and downwardly moving courses of link means each for holding a container to be processed, means adjacent said chain means for successively loading containers having open' upper ends into the link means of said upwardly moving course so that said containers will become inverted when they are advanced to said downwardly moving course, chamber means for containing a processing fluid surrounding a portion of said downwardly moving course, and means adjacent said conveyor chain for successively unloading processed containers from the link means of said downwardly moving course and turning the containers to position their open ends up.

13. An apparatus for processing containers, as delined in claim 12, wherein said means for unloading and turning the containers includes means for striking the containers substantially above the lowermost end thereof for knocking the containers from the links and re orientating the containers with their open ends up.

14. A method of sterilizing articles such as containers and the like comprising continuously moving a series of containers forwardly along a predetermined endless path of travel having a substantially straight portion, successively `at least partially evacuating the containers while the containers are moving along said path of travel portion, and subsequently continuously advancing the evacuated containers through a body of saturated steam around said path of travel portion and under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, which steam expands rapidly into the evacuated containers for thoroughly sterilizing the interior of the containers.

15. A method of sterilzing containers, as dened in claim 14, which includes the step of imparting a swirling motion to the steam entering the containers to promote intimate contact of the steam with the interior surfaces of the containers.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,713 Blair Mar. 3, 1908 1,059,544 Kiefer Apr. 22, 1913 1,652,654 Wolnger Dec. 13, 1927 1,734,585 Ladewig Nov. 5, 1929 1,779,152 Wheeler Oct. 21, 1930 1,914,145 McClatchie June 13, 1933 2,021,292 Cook Nov. 19, 1935 2,337,061 Murch Dec. 21, 1943 

